Abstract: A composition and method whereby the same group that is attached to or within the backbone of an associative thickener is reversibly switched between being hydrophilic and hydrophobic in nature. When the group that is attached to or within the backbone is rendered hydrophilic, the aqueous thickener is pourable and readily incorporated into aqueous polymer compositions. When this group is rendered hydrophobic, the thickener performs its thickening function efficiently. Switching is readily accomplished by adjusting the pH of the associative thickener composition and the aqueous polymer composition being thickened. The thickeners may be prepared from monomers by an all-aqueous solution polymerization.

Abstract: Thickened aqueous compositions, and a method for controlling viscosity drift for thickened aqueous compositions comprising a pigment, a copolymer containing polymerized units of phosphate- or phosphonate-containing monomers, and an acid suppressible thickener.

Abstract: A method for preparing hydrophobically modified rheology modifiers; said method comprising polymerizing a monomer mixture having two or more components. The first component is H2C?C(R)C(O)X(CH2CH2O)n(CH(R?)CH2O)mR? or H2C?C(R)C6H4C(CH3)2NHCO2(CH2CH2O)n(CH(R?)CH2O)mR?, wherein X is O or NH, R is H or CH3, R? is C1-C2 alkyl, R? is C8-C22 alkyl or C8-C16 alkylphenyl, n is an average number from 6-100 and m is an average number from 0-50, provided that n?m and m+n is 6-100. The second component is a C3-C6 carboxylic acid monomer; wherein polymerization occurs in the presence of an oxidant, a reductant and a metal catalyst, and substantially in the absence of a peroxide, hydroperoxide or perester containing an alkyl group having at least five carbon atoms.

Abstract: A polymer composition with blocks of hydrophobes attached to or within the backbone of an associative thickener. The blocks are composed of two or more units of the same or different hydrophobes whereby the hydrophobe is reversibly switched between being hydrophilic and hydrophobic in nature. When the hydrophobe is rendered hydrophilic, the aqueous thickener is pourable and readily incorporated into aqueous polymer compositions. When this hydrophobe is rendered hydrophobic, the thickener performs its thickening function efficiently, especially in tinted systems. Switching is readily accomplished by adjusting the pH of the associative thickener composition and the aqueous polymer composition being thickened.

Abstract: New ethylenically unsaturated monomers are provided that can be (co)polymerized to provide a composition and method whereby the same group that is attached to or within the backbone of an associative thickener is reversibly switched between being hydrophilic and hydrophobic in nature. When the group that is attached to or within the backbone is rendered hydrophilic, the aqueous thickener is pourable and readily incorporated into aqueous polymer compositions. When this group is rendered hydrophobic, the thickener performs its thickening function efficiently. Switching is readily accomplished by adjusting the pH of the associative thickener composition and the aqueous polymer composition being thickened. The thickeners are prepared from the novel monomers by an aqueous solution polymerization.

Abstract: A composition and method whereby the same group that is attached to or within the backbone of an associative thickener is reversibly switched between being hydrophilic and hydrophobic in nature. The group comprises a tertiary amine, or tertiary phosphine and has a hydrocarbon radical bonded to the amine nitrogen atom or phosphine phosphorus atom, which hydrocarbon radical is pendant to the backbone and contains fewer than 10 carbon atoms. When the group that is attached to or within the backbone is rendered hydrophilic, the aqueous thickener is pourable and readily incorporated into aqueous polymer compositions. When this group is rendered hydrophobic, the thickener performs its thickening function efficiently. Switching is readily accomplished by adjusting the pH of the associative thickener composition and the aqueous polymer composition being thickened.

Abstract: A method for improving the viscosity stability of an aqueous composition having a latex polymer and associative thickeners with at least one hydrophilic segment and at least two hydrophobic segments is provided. The associative thickeners are chosen such that one associative thickener has a lower molecular weight than the other associative thickener.

Abstract: Thickened aqueous compositions, and a method for controlling viscosity drift for thickened aqueous compositions comprising a pigment, a copolymer containing polymerized units of phosphate- or phosphonate-containing monomers, and an acid suppressible thickener.

Abstract: A composition and method whereby the same group that is attached to or within the backbone of an associative thickener is reversibly switched between being hydrophilic and hydrophobic in nature. When the group that is attached to or within the backbone is rendered hydrophilic, the aqueous thickener is pourable and readily incorporated into aqueous polymer compositions. When this group is rendered hydrophobic, the thickener performs its thickening function efficiently. Switching is readily accomplished by adjusting the pH of the associative thickener composition and the aqueous polymer composition being thickened.

Abstract: A thickener blend composition, and method for thickening aqueous systems, comprising an associative thickener wherein the same group that is attached to or within the backbone of the associative thickener is reversibly switched between being hydrophilic and hydrophobic in nature. When the group that is attached to or within the backbone is rendered hydrophilic, the aqueous thickener is pourable and readily incorporated into aqueous polymer compositions. When this group is rendered hydrophobic, the thickener performs its thickening function efficiently. Switching is readily accomplished by adjusting the pH of the associative thickener composition and the aqueous polymer composition being thickened.

Abstract: A polymer composition with blocks of hydrophobes attached to or within the backbone of an associative thickener. The blocks are composed of two or more units of the same or different hydrophobes whereby the hydrophobe is reversibly switched between being hydrophilic and hydrophobic in nature. When the hydrophobe is rendered hydrophilic, the aqueous thickener is pourable and readily incorporated into aqueous polymer compositions. When this hydrophobe is rendered hydrophobic, the thickener performs its thickening function efficiently, especially in tinted systems. Switching is readily accomplished by adjusting the pH of the associative thickener composition and the aqueous polymer composition being thickened.

Abstract: Nonionic associative thickeners are provided having a nonionic water soluble polymer backbone containing vinyl addition polymer. The nonionic water soluble polymer backbone has at least two pendant polymeric chains attached to the nonionic water soluble polymer backbone. The pendant polymeric chains have terminal chain segments containing polyoxypropylene units. The nonionic associative thickeners are useful for modifying the rheology of compositions including aqueous compositions, such as latex containing compositions.

Abstract: Nonionic associative thickeners are provided having a nonionic water soluble polymer backbone with at least two pendant polymeric chains attached to the nonionic water soluble polymer backbone. The pendant polymeric chains have terminal chain segments containing polyoxyalkylene units comprising 3 to 6 carbon atoms. The nonionic associative thickeners are useful for modifying the rheology of compositions including aqueous compositions, such as latex containing compositions.

Abstract: A composition and method whereby the same group that is attached to or within the backbone of an associative thickener is reversibly switched between being hydrophilic and hydrophobic in nature. When the group that is attached to or within the backbone is rendered hydrophilic, the aqueous thickener is pourable and readily incorporated into aqueous polymer compositions. When this group is rendered hydrophobic, the thickener performs its thickening function efficiently. Switching is readily accomplished by adjusting the pH of the associative thickener composition and the aqueous polymer composition being thickened.

Abstract: A thickener blend composition, and method for thickening aqueous systems, comprising an associative thickener wherein the same group that is attached to or within the backbone of the associative thickener is reversibly switched between being hydrophilic and hydrophobic in nature. When the group that is attached to or within the backbone is rendered hydrophilic, the aqueous thickener is pourable and readily incorporated into aqueous polymer compositions. When this group is rendered hydrophobic, the thickener performs its thickening function efficiently. Switching is readily accomplished by adjusting the pH of the associative thickener composition and the aqueous polymer composition being thickened.

Abstract: A binder composition is provided including a copolymer binder and a hydrophobically modified alkali soluble emulsion polymer. The binder composition is useful as a component of paper coating compositions. As provided is a coating process including the paper coating composition and a paper substrate coated with a paper coating including the binder composition.

Abstract: A paper having an improved print quality comprises a paper substrate having a surface with a surface roughness of less than 6 microns and a surface gloss of 5-80% which surface has been coated with a light-weight, low solids content, top coat. The top coat may comprise (i) a rheology modifier/binder component and at least one pigment or (ii) at least one binder coated pigment. The top coat provides a significant improvement to the delta gloss of the so-treated paper.

Abstract: A thermosensitive recording material comprising a support such as paper bearing thereon a first layer comprising multivoided particles and, disposed on the first layer, a thermosensitive recording layer is provided.

Abstract: A binder composition is provided including a copolymer binder and a hydrophobically modified alkali soluble emulsion polymer. The binder composition is useful as a component of paper coating compositions. As provided is a coating process including the paper coating composition and a paper substrate coated with a paper coating including the binder composition.

Abstract: A paper having an improved print quality comprises a paper substrate having a surface with a surface roughness of less than 6 microns and a surface gloss of 5-80% which surface has been coated with a light-weight, low solids content, top coat. The top coat may comprise (i) a rheology modifier/binder component and at least one pigment or (ii) at least one binder coated pigment. The top coat provides a significant improvement to the delta gloss of the so-treated paper.